One seemingly ordinary Wednesday morning, Sukai Qin realized what it truly means to be a working parent.
After her son accidentally lodged a jewelry bead into his sister’s ear, Qin and her husband ended up in an emergency room at a children’s hospital, anxiously waiting for a doctor to help their daughter. As the hours ticked by, Qin missed multiple meetings and Slack messages, and she couldn’t help but think about how a non-working parent in this situation could simply focus on her child without the fear of missing important work tasks.
Nevertheless, there was one silver lining to be found amid the mayhem — and it was the support she received from her employer, Comcast Advertising, a company that has always enabled her to simultaneously prioritize work and personal responsibilities.
Qin said that the company has empowered her to embrace life as a parent. She recalled how, upon giving birth to her first child a few years ago, she struggled with imposter syndrome, fearing that she didn’t have what it took to balance motherhood with career ambitions.
But that was far from the case — and her manager at the time knew it.
“When I returned from parental leave, I was promoted,” Qin shared. “That promotion reassured me that my contributions were seen and valued, reinforcing my confidence and commitment to my work. It also reflected a broader culture of trust and support at Comcast Advertising — one where working parents are not sidelined but encouraged to thrive.”
“It also reflected a broader culture of trust and support at Comcast — one where working parents are not sidelined but encouraged to thrive.”
Qin, who currently holds the position of senior director of product management for Comcast Advertising’s ad platform provider, FreeWheel, feels as though the organization has enabled her to continuously maintain a healthy work-life balance. With encouragement from managers and access to benefits that empower parents to thrive, she has managed to navigate the highs and lows of life while advancing in her career.
“People aren’t machines — we go through different phases in life, and becoming a parent introduces a whole new set of unpredictable challenges,” Qin said. “Having an employer that understands and supports these transitions has been critical in helping me adapt.”
Below, Qin shares how the company has helped her navigate parenthood and maintain work-life balance, why she believes parents make the best workers and the advice she’d give to other working parents.
About Comcast Advertising
Comcast Advertising comprises three businesses: FreeWheel, Effectv and AudienceXpress businesses. The organization delivers solutions that enable brands to maximize the value of their advertising efforts, measure the efficacy of their ad campaigns, and identify the right target audiences.
What are some other ways in which Comcast Advertising has supported you as a working parent and helped you maintain work-life balance?
Since both my husband and I are first-generation immigrants with no extended family in the United States, it’s important that we have the flexibility to visit home and take care of our family. When my grandmother who raised me faced serious health issues, I was able to travel back home and spend precious time with her while continuing to work. My children also had a rare opportunity to bond with their grandparents, aunts and cousins, creating memories that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. That level of flexibility and understanding from my employer is something I’ll always be grateful for.
Parent-First Perks
Comcast NBCUniversal, the parent company of Comcast Advertising, offers a variety of benefits and perks that are intended to support working parents. These include generous paid parental leave for both primary and non-primary caregivers, competitive fertility benefit coverage, adoption assistance and surrogacy assistance programs that reimburse up to $25,000 per child, and access to back-up care for both children and adult family members who need extra support. The company also connects working parents with personal confidential counseling services that can offer help with managing stress, relationships and other personal issues.
How has your ability to navigate being a working parent become easier since joining Comcast Advertising?
With the encouragement of my managers and peers, I learned to “upgrade my operating system” as a working parent — focusing on ruthless prioritization, efficiency and time management. Instead of trying to do everything, I became laser-focused on what truly matters, which has made me a stronger, more effective leader. Because of this experience, I had a smooth transition into parenthood, and I now pay it forward by supporting other colleagues going through the same journey. The supportive environment at Comcast has been instrumental in helping me build a great home and navigate the challenges of raising two little ones who occasionally get themselves into trouble!
Why Qin Believes Parents Make the Best Workers
- Emotional Resilience: “Parenting is a master class in staying calm under pressure. The sleepless nights, the endless tantrums — they train you for dealing with difficult coworkers or unreasonable deadlines.”
- Communication Skills: “If you’ve ever faced a child armed with the ‘five whys,’ you’ll know that parenting is an exercise in precision storytelling. My son’s relentless questioning about The Little Blue Truck has sharpened my ability to distill information into its clearest, most resonant form — a skill that translates seamlessly to crafting product pitches or executive updates.”
- Influence Without Authority: “Convincing a stubborn preschooler to eat broccoli is not so different from rallying a team toward a challenging deadline. The key is building trust and appealing to shared goals.”
- Loyalty and Responsibility: “When your paycheck funds skating lessons and pediatric appointments, you take your job seriously. Studies show parents tend to stay longer at companies, valuing stability and familiarity.”
Do you have any pieces of advice you’d like to offer other working parents?
My advice is to be brutally honest about what’s most important to you in a job. Is it remote flexibility? Compensation? A supportive manager? Company culture? Once you identify your non-negotiables, be intentional about choosing an employer that aligns with your priorities. The right environment can make all the difference in your ability to thrive both as a professional and as a parent.
